Clean the screen on a Moen kitchen faucet

Remove and rinse the part that screens the water: either the aerator at the spout tip or the screen washer inside a pull-down/pull-out wand. Briefly flush the hose or spout while the screen is out, then reinstall and test. Moen’s guides show the exact removal method for your aerator or wand style and the correct tools to use.

Identify the exact faucet model first. Turn the faucet off before removing its wand or aerator. Before disconnecting any supply line or under-sink control-box filter, shut off both water supplies and relieve pressure using the model’s Moen instructions. Direct any permitted flush into the sink and stop if a shutoff will not close or a connection leaks.

Identify which Moen screen you have

Moen kitchen faucets use one or more of these screening parts:

• Pull-down or pull-out wand screen washer located where the hose joins the spray wand. It removes and rinses easily and is a common source of low flow if obstructed. See Moen’s instructions for screen washer removal, rinsing and reassembly (Moen: Cleaning and Installing Screen Washers).
• Aerators at the spout tip. Moen makes exposed aerators that unthread as a housing and several concealed/recessed aerators that require a supplied removal tool or specific hex sizes; the guide shows each variant and how to remove it (Moen: Faucet Aerator Cleaning).
• Some touchless or smart models also have additional screen filters in the control box under the sink that can be removed and rinsed when troubleshooting low flow (Moen: Clean the screen filter in the control box).

Clean a pull-down or pull-out wand screen washer (Moen method)

1. Pull the wand out as far as the hose allows. Tie a soft cloth around the hose so it cannot retract into the faucet. Cover the drain with a towel or strainer to protect small parts (Moen: Cleaning and Installing Screen Washers).
2. Hold the hose coupling steady and unthread the spray wand by hand. Remove the screen washer from either the hose coupling or the wand’s threaded end.
3. Rinse the screen washer under running water to remove debris. With the screen washer removed, briefly run water through the hose; the flow should be fairly strong. Weak or no flow suggests an obstruction deeper in the system (Moen: Cleaning and Installing Screen Washers).
4. Reinstall: place the screen washer into the wand, reinstall any separate O-ring on top if present, then hand-tighten the hose to the wand. Using pliers on the hose coupling, turn an additional 1/8 turn. Turn on the faucet and check for leaks; if needed, tighten another 1/8 turn (Moen: Cleaning and Installing Screen Washers).

Clean an exposed or recessed Moen aerator

Exposed aerators

Moen’s guide shows exposed aerators that unthread as a housing containing the internal screen group (“aerator pill”). Identify whether yours is a male or female threaded design, unthread the housing, rinse the internal screens and rubber seal, then reassemble in the same order (Moen: Faucet Aerator Cleaning).

Concealed/recessed aerators

These require the supplied Moen removal tool or specified hex sizes; removal is counter-clockwise. Variants in Moen’s guide include:

• Round concealed aerators removed with the supplied tool, unthreading counter-clockwise.
• Oval concealed designs that use hex wrenches: some require 1/8 inch or 5/64 inch hex to remove screws; another style requires removing the spout “throat” first, then two hex screws with a 7/64 inch hex (Moen: Faucet Aerator Cleaning).
• An oval press-fit version with two fins that pulls straight out using needle-nose pliers as shown in the guide (Moen: Faucet Aerator Cleaning).

After removal, rinse the internal screens and rubber seal, then reinstall per the guide for your aerator style. If you prefer not to disassemble a stuck aerator, see our related advice on options that don’t require removal: Can I clean a faucet aerator without removing it?

If flow is still low: in-line and control-box filters

• Some Moen faucets have an open waterway with no visible aerator; these include in-line filters at the ends of the supply lines. Turn off water, disconnect the lines, and rinse debris from the filter components as shown in the Moen guide before reattaching (Moen: Faucet Aerator Cleaning).
• Touchless MotionSense or similar models include a control-box screen filter under the sink. Turn off supplies, remove the filter plug from the bottom of the control box with a flat screwdriver, rinse the screen, and reinstall. A second screen in “hose 2” sits inside a brass filter housing that can be opened to rinse the screen; confirm hoses seat fully when reinstalled (Moen: Clean the screen filter in the control box).

Do not force parts. If screens are damaged, replace following your model’s Moen instructions. If flushing screens and filters does not restore flow, contact Moen support for model-specific troubleshooting.

Tools and prep

• Towel or sink strainer to cover the drain; soft cloth to protect finishes (Moen: Cleaning and Installing Screen Washers).
• Moen concealed-aerator removal tool or the hex wrench sizes listed for your aerator style (1/8 in, 5/64 in, or 7/64 in as applicable) (Moen: Faucet Aerator Cleaning).
• Pliers only as specified by Moen for tightening the hose coupling an extra 1/8 turn on wand reassembly (Moen: Cleaning and Installing Screen Washers).

Related reading from Home by Doing

• Can I clean a faucet aerator without removing it?
• Should I use plumber's putty or silicone to seal my sink drain?

FAQ

How often should I clean the screen? Whenever water flow drops or the spray pattern distorts. Debris and mineral buildup restrict performance; cleaning generally restores it (Moen: Faucet Aerator Cleaning).

What direction do I turn a concealed aerator? Use the Moen tool for your model and unthread counter-clockwise to remove as shown in the guide (Moen: Faucet Aerator Cleaning).

Can I soak screens in chemicals? Moen’s instructions focus on removing, rinsing and flushing components. Do not force parts or use harsh chemicals; follow the model’s documented steps (Moen: Cleaning and Installing Screen Washers).